Henry robinson



(No Model.)

H. ROBINSON.

PIANO ATTACHMENT.

No. 594,651. Patented Nov. 30,1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IIENRY ROBINSON, OF NEWV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO HENRY ROBINSON & CO.

PIANO ATTACHMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 594,651, dated November30, 1897.

Application filed February 10, 1897. Serial No. 622,781. (No model.) i

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY RoBINsoN, a citizen of the UnitedStates,residin g at New York, in the county and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Piano Attachments, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in piano attachments of the kindin which a tone changing or mnffiing device is attached to a movablesupport or holder and is let down into operative position or withdrawnas desired; and the object of my invention is to provide a holder forsuch a device which while of sufficient stiffness and strength is muchlighter than those now in use, so that it can be let down into placeeasily, softly, and without jar.

My improved construction also provides a simple and efficient means forclamping the muifling or tone-changing device to the bar without the useof cement or glue of any kind, thus materially facilitating thefastening and removal of same. 7

These objects I accomplish by making the holder or support of thin metalin the form of a hollow bar with a narrow slit along one side, in whichthe tone changing or muffling device is clamped.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification,Figure l is a partlysectional elevation of my improved holder shown asapplied to a muflier-strip. Fig. 2 is a section at right angles toFig. 1. Fig. 3 is an elevation at right angles to Fig. 1. Fig. 4; is

an elevation of a portion of the holder shown as applied to atone-changing device, as a mandolin attachment. Fig. 5 is a section atright angles to Fig. i.

A represents the holder or clamping bar for the tone muftling orchanging device. As shown, it consists of thin metal, preferably in theform of a half-round, and bent at its ends to form the side arms a, bywhich it is pivoted to the piano-frame C, so as to allow it to be raisedor lowered as desired. This clampingbar is preferably made from a stripof sheet metal which is bent to form a half-round hollow bar, with itsedges nearly meeting at one side, leaving a narrow slit which serves forholding or clamping the tone=changing device.

The bar may, however, be formed in any suitable manner, as by flatteningand bending a piece of thin tubing and forming aslit in one side thereofor in other ways.

In Figs. 1, 2, and 3 I have shown the improved holding or clamping barused to support a muffler-strip B, one edge of which is inserted in theaforesaid narrow slit in the side of the bar and clamped therein andbetween the edges thereof. The natural spring of the bar may be madepartially effective in hold ing the strip B in place; but I make the attachment secure and yet readily releasable when desired by means ofscrews or bolts D, which pass through holes in the hollow bar A, and arescrewed up as tight as maybe necessary.

My invention is applicable to any other tone-changing device having ashiftable support or holder. Thus in Figs. 4 and 5 it is shown appliedto a mandolin attachment or device for changing the tone of the piano byinterposing a hard hammer or tappet between the soft hammer and thewire. The tappets (shown at E in Figs. a and 5) are attached to hangingflaps or leather strips F, and the upper edge of said flaps or stripsare held in the slit in the side of the bar A, bolts or screws I) beingused to compress the bar and tighten its hold on the leather strip.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. In a piano attachment, the combination with the tone muilling orchanging device, of a clamping-bar formed of thin metal and having aflat portion and a half-round portion between which said device isclamped, and screws engaging with said flat and half-round portions andcompressing them together.

2. In a piano attachment, the combination with the tone muffling orchanging device, of a hollow clamping-bar formed of thin metal having aslit at one side in which said device is held, and screws or boltscompressing the bar to clamp said device in place.

HENRY ROBINSON.

Witnesses:

.T. GREEN, M. V. Brncooio.

